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One of our country’s periodic “great debates” is in full swing. This one constitutes an early round in the national conversation that we need to have about how to address the budget deficit, which has mushroomed out of control over the past... See More

The frequent drumbeat of “no-new-spending” and “pay-down-the-debt” in Washington can be puzzling for people who know instinctively that even when times are tough, you have to keep investing in the things that matter. While there is much energy... See More

In an event yesterday sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) State and Local Officials Initiative, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan emphasized the importance of a global approach to education. Noting that the United States is experiencing both increased competition from and collaboration with other countries, Duncan described education as the great equalizer and connector, not just for students in American schools, but also around the world.... See More

In a May 1 op-ed in the Washington Post, Bruce Morrison and Paul Donnelly make a compelling case for the need for a better system than E-verify to ensure that only legal workers secure jobs in the United States. Morrison, a former member of Congress from Connecticut who chaired the House Subcommittee on Immigration from 1989 to 1991 and served on the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, and Donnelly, who served as communications director for the commission, are indeed no strangers to the complexities of the issue.... See More

As we approach the end of 2009, the buzz is growing in Washington, DC, about a coming debate on immigration reform. Meanwhile, President Obama recently signaled again his understanding of the importance of international education and the importance of U.S. openness to talent and students from other countries. At the closing of his jobs summit in Washington, DC, earlier this month, he said... See More

In a speech today at the Center for American Progress, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano made it clear that immigration reform must happen in order for her department to effectively meet the challenges and needs of the 21st century. As she set out the specific parameters of reforms, Napolitano highlighted the damage done to the U.S. economy under current laws that makes it difficult for the best and the brightest who attend U.S. colleges and universities to stay here and work upon graduation.... See More

Looking ahead to next year, it has become increasingly important that concerns about the economy not deter lawmakers from ensuring that reforms to attract and retain highly educated, highly skilled foreign nationals are included in comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Illegal immigration issues have dominated the debate, but the reality is that without addressing our broken legal immigration system, we will short-change ourselves in the long run. Keeping the United States a welcoming place for talented students and workers from around the world will be crucial to our economic recovery and our future ability to innovate, compete, and thrive in the global economy.
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The passage of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for FY 2010-2011 (HR 2410) in the U.S. House of Representatives is an important investment in America’s diplomatic capabilities. As Matt observed, “this legislation is necessary and long overdue” and sets the stage for “global persistent engagement rather than persistent conflict.”

Doubling the size of the Peace Corps, enhancing the State Department’s educational and cultural exchange programs, providing scholarships for students from around the world to study in the U.S., and hiring and training more Foreign Service officers are all important elements to bolster the effectiveness of U.S. public diplomacy, foreign policy, and national security efforts. NAFSA strongly supports the enactment of another piece of this important legislation – The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act.

Yesterday, the House Foreign Relations Authorization Act was passed favorably out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. While the bill's primary purpose is to authorize funding for the operations of the U.S. Department of State, it also includes innovative programs critical to accomplishing U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy goals like the Simon Study Abroad legislation. The Simon bill aims to dramatically increase the number of American undergraduates who study abroad in quality programs across the globe, focusing particular attention on ensuring access to study abroad across the college demographic and encouraging study abroad in the developing world. Currently, only about one percent of U.S. undergraduates study abroad – this bill seeks to change that.... See More